Lust and Lies 04 - Pretty Maids in a Row

insist on seeing Cheryl. And David, play up the story you're going to do on all the women. If we're on target, she'll grab at the opportunity to tell her side of it."
    The agents wedged themselves down behind the front seats as they neared the MacLeash driveway. "Okay. We're ready whenever you are."
    The moment they were parked, Holly took a deep breath, gave David a half-smile and got out of the car. She didn't hesitate to let him hold her hand as they waited for someone to answer their knock.
    David was about to knock again when Theodore opened the door a crack. "May I help you?" he asked, peering over his trifocals.
    "It's all right, dear," April said from behind him. "I told you I was expecting them."
    Theodore stepped back slowly and opened the door wide enough for David and Holly to enter.
    April came forward with a smile, but Holly thought it looked forced. The usually perfect hairdo was unkempt and purplish shadows under the eyes marred April's usual prettiness.
    "Theodore, you remember Holly. She was here Saturday morning with my other friends. And I believe this gentleman is David Wells."
    After introductions and greetings were exchanged, Theodore excused himself to return to his study and April suggested they make themselves comfortable.
    Diane's advice turned out to be unnecessary, for as soon as they were seated, April began to talk. "I can't tell you how relieved I am that you asked to come, Holly. And you too, Mr. Wells. I really haven't been sure where to turn." She ran her hand through her hair, mussing it more than it already was. "I thought I could hold it all together. I was only trying to help everyone, you see. I don't understand how everything went so wrong." April sighed and folded her hands on her lap. "Tell me about Rachel."
    As Holly offered the abridged version of what she had been told, tears slipped down April's cheeks, though she still held herself rigidly in place until Holly had told her the basics of what Agent Quick had related about the murder investigations. She didn't need to tell her what conclusions the FBI was drawing. April guessed.
    "In many ways, I am guilty," April said. "Guilty of playing God with everybody's lives. And look what a mess I've made. Three men murdered. Rachel's gone. Bobbi and Cheryl may never recover."
    "April," Holly said gently, "where is Cheryl?"
    April sniffled and looked up at the ceiling. "In the attic. I made a terrible mistake about that too. And now I don't know how to fix any of it."
    When it didn't appear that she would say more on her own, David stepped in. "I want to do an article on what happened to all of you in college and how it affected your lives. Naturally, I'll have to bring in the murders. If there's anything you'd like to tell me..."
    April met his gaze and held it for several seconds. "There was an FBI agent here earlier, but Theodore told him I was away. I suppose I'll have to talk to one of them eventually. Maybe it will be easier if I tell you first."
    Holly was afraid to breathe, lest a movement on her part would stop April from confiding in them. She had described April as petite but at the moment she looked like a tiny child whose fragile body could no longer bear the weight of her own life. She was tempted to put her arms around her and tell her it wasn't necessary to say anything, but Holly knew she couldn't do that.
    Combing her fingers through her hair again, April began. "The hearing was very difficult for Cheryl. It was as if it was all happening again, including the insinuation that she had been at fault. We really hadn't expected that attitude to prevail all these years later. But Cheryl wasn't completely beaten. She decided she wanted to confront Ziegler, alone, to remind him that regardless of the outcome, she would always know the truth. She saw it as a way to stand up to her enemy one last time, then dismiss him from her life.
    "It was a good idea, in theory, and though I wasn't in complete agreement, I didn't stop her. Just before his victory party, she called him and he agreed to see her in his suite for a few minutes. I waited in the lobby for her."
    "I started worrying when she hadn't returned in a half hour or so, and after another fifteen minutes—I'm really not positive how long it was—I decided to go up after her." She paused and massaged her temples. "Everything blurs a little after that. I'm still not sure how I managed it all."
    "Take your time, April," David said softly. "Just tell us what you